Alamogordo NM
1-19-2026 8:57pm

Successful MLK Day March Unites Over 150 in Alamogordo: Crossing Historic Lines for Unity and Reflection

Successful MLK Day March Unites Over 150 in Alamogordo: Crossing Historic Lines for Unity and Reflection - 2nd Lofe Media AlamogordoTownNews.org

ALAMOGORDO, New Mexico — More than 150 community members gathered in a powerful display of unity on Monday, January 19, 2026, to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the annual MLK Freedom March and community celebration. Organized by the Alamogordo MLK Committee and supported by a grant from the New Mexico State MLK Committee, the event honored Dr. King’s legacy of nonviolent action, justice, and the Beloved Community while symbolically reclaiming historic divides in the city.

The march kicked off at 10:00 a.m. from the Lowe’s Grocery Store parking lot near 10th Street—a deliberate starting point just north of the invisible line that once separated predominantly Anglo neighborhoods to the north from Hispanic and African American communities to the south during segregation eras. Participants marched down 10th Street to New York Avenue, continued along New York Avenue to 8th Street, and proceeded to Maryland Avenue, concluding at the historic Dudley School Community Center.

This route carried deep meaning: it crossed the old boundary that restricted movement and access for many residents before full integration in the 1950s, symbolizing progress, reconciliation, and shared purpose. The march embodied the 2026 national theme, “Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way,” as diverse groups—families, schools, churches, veterans, ROTC cadets, and civic organizations—walked together in solidarity.

Upon arrival at Dudley School (originally built in 1914 as a segregated facility for Hispanic students and later serving Black and Hispanic children during transitional integration periods), the program shifted to reflection and celebration from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Highlights included:

• A special proclamation read by Mayor Sharon McDonald, Alamogordo’s first elected Black mayor (sworn in late 2025), marking a full-circle moment of leadership from a descendant of the historically underserved south side.

• Poetry and songs performed by local youth.

• Prayer from the Black church community.

• Historical insights shared by the Tularosa Basin Historic Society.

• Educational displays on local Black and Hispanic history.

• A free “march-style luncheon” provided to the first 100 participants, evoking the spirit of Dr. King’s era.

The event fostered networking, community pride, and forward momentum, transforming Dudley School—from a site of past separation into a vibrant, restored community center—into a space of gathering and hope.

A YouTube video captured the spirit of the day, showing participants singing “We Shall Overcome” as they marched, underscoring the nonviolent, collective resolve that defined the celebration. (Watch here: https://youtu.be/ftRzz1FBII0?feature=shared)

<!-- EMBEDDED YOUTU.BE URL: https://youtu.be/ftRzz1FBII0?feature=shared -->

“This turnout shows what’s possible when we choose unity over division,” organizer Commissioner Warren Robinson noted. The march not only honored Dr. King’s dream but actively built it in Alamogordo—one block, one historic crossing, at a time.

For more on Black history in the Tularosa Basin, ongoing events, and ways to get involved, visit https://blackhistoryalamogordo.com/.

The Alamogordo community extends heartfelt thanks to all participants, volunteers, sponsors, and leaders—including Commissioner Warren Robinson and the MLK Committee—for making this a memorable and meaningful observance.

#MLKDay2026 #Alamogordo #BelovedCommunity #DudleySchool #Unity #NewMexico

(Story compiled from event reports, YouTube coverage by Krazy KALH Radio, 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News, blackhistoryalamogordo.com, and community sources.)

More News from Alamogordo
1
I'm interested
I disagree with this
This is unverified
Spam
Offensive